Noreen Yamane appointed Hawaiʻi Community College chancellor

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents has approved the appointment of Noreen Yamane as chancellor of Hawaiʻi Community College. Her appointment is effective July 1, 2011.

“With her deep commitment to Hawai‘i Community College and to the Big Island community, Noreen Yamane is an ideal leader to help further the higher education opportunities for East and West Hawai‘i,” said John Morton, UH vice president for community colleges. “Hawai‘i Community College has been our fastest growing community college. Noreen has been a big part of that growth, and I look forward to working with her as part of the UH Community Colleges team.”

Yamane has been serving as the interim chancellor at Hawai‘i Community College since July 2010. She served the previous year as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs where she chaired the College Effectiveness Review Committee, overseeing the integration of comprehensive program reviews, budget development, strategic planning and assessment. Yamane was formerly the dean of instruction/assistant to the vice chancellor for academic affairs where she led the update and revision of Hawai'i CC’s Strategic Plan.

Since first joining the college as a lecturer in mathematics in 1980, she has served as equal employment opportunity/affirmative action officer, division chair for mathematics and natural sciences and liberal arts unit chair. Yamane has also coordinated the college's summer session program since 2004.

She has received many awards recognizing her leadership and commitment in higher education, including the National Education Association Chair’s Academy International Exemplary Leadership Award, 'A'ali‘i Chancellor's Service Award (from Hawai'i CC) and the University of Hawai'i's Regents' Medal for Excellence in Teaching.

Yamane attended the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and completed her BEd at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, returning for her MEd after teaching in state Department of Education intermediate schools and adult continuing education programs.